Exchange of Notes Concerning Grant Aid to the Republic of Madagascar (Project for Construction of Access Roads in the South Area of the Capital)

May 22, 2008

The Government of Japan has decided to extend to the Government of the Republic of Madagascar grant aid up to 782 million yen (three fiscal years project, FY2008: 201 million yen, FY2009: 467 million yen, FY2010: 114 million yen) for the “Project for the Construction of Access Roads in the South Area of the Capital.” Official Notes to this effect were exchanged on May 22 (Thu) (local time: same day) in Antananarivo City between Mr. Tetsurou Kawaguchi, Japanese Ambassador to Madagascar, and Mr. Marcel Ranjeva, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Madagscar.
The outline of the project:

(1) Contents:

The Ministry of Public Service and Climate of Madagascar will execute a plan to construct a bypass road of about 3km and a bridge to connect the main National Roads No. 1 and No. 4 in the South of Antananarivo, the capital, and the center of traffic and transportation of the country. The Government of Japan provides funds of the project. (The Official Notes on grant aid for the detailed design of this project were exchanged on November 14, 2007.)

(2) Importance of this project:

Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, is connected by highways to main international trade ports as Toamasina Port, on the east coast of the country, and Majunga Port, in the north. Antananarivo is the country’s administrative and economic center. There is extensive transportation of commodities to the city and most cargo has to pass through the city as the intersection of each highway. This has caused constant traffic jams which obstruct the smooth distribution and transportation of the city. Furthermore, it badly affected the environment.
The Government of Madagascar is formulating an urban transportation plan for the capital and its surrounding areas to improve the nation-wide economic infrastructure, and strengthen traffic and transportation by committing the bypass roads for the smooth movement of people and cargo. However, because of shortage of funds, the Government of Madagascar has requested from the Government of Japan grant assistance for the project.

(3) Effect of the project

Constant traffic congestion will be alleviated in the capital and distribution will be accelerated between main ports and cities including the capital in Madagascar as a whole. In the Tanjungbant area where the heaviest traffic is located in the south of the city, daily transportation is expected to be reduced from about 20,000 vehicles as of now to 15,000.
Transportation will be smoother from a suburban industrial complex, which is adjacent to the highways to be built, to the national main port, Toamasina. The improvement of the industrial complex is expected to bring about economic development.

(END)

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